Lucic’s NHL Return Put on Hold
Milan Lucic’s return to professional hockey has been suspended, after the St. Louis Blues terminated his tryout contract for the veteran forward, the team announced on Tuesday.
Lucic, who hasn’t played in the NHL for more than a year, initially signed a tryout contract with the Blues before the start of training camp. The 37-year-old player recorded a goal and an assist in four preseason games before missing playing time due to a lower-body injury.
Subsequently, he returned to the Blues’ AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, where he recorded an assist in five games. Lucic failed to register a shot in four of the five games he played with the Thunderbirds. His most recent game was on November 21st in the Thunderbirds’ 2-1 victory over the Utica Comets.
The burly forward played his first eight seasons with the Bruins and was part of the team that won the Stanley Cup in 2011, giving the franchise its first title since 1972.
Lucic had three seasons with more than 20 goals before leaving the Bruins after the 2014-15 season. He spent one season with the Los Angeles Kings, before spending the next three years with the Edmonton Oilers, followed by a four-season stint with the Calgary Flames.
He signed a one-year contract worth $1 million to return to the Bruins before the 2023-24 season. Lucic recorded two points in four games before suffering an ankle injury that led to him being placed on long-term injured reserve.
He remained out of alignment and was then arrested on suspicion of assault and battery on a family member. The Bruins placed Lucic on indefinite leave for the remainder of the season.
The Blues (7-10-6) have had one of the most challenging starts of any team in the first quarter of the season, after reaching the playoffs last year. On Tuesday, they are seven points behind the Utah Mammoth and the Vegas Golden Knights for the last wild card spot in the Western Conference, while they are four points ahead of the Nashville Predators for the fewest in the NHL.
